Shelf construction



June 14, 1960 E. H. RIEDMAIER ETAL 2,940,603

SHELF CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 14, 1957 2 7! "7111471 I u Z n VII/Ill II .I

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Fig 3 Edward H. Riedmcier 8 Alfred N. Feufz June 14, 1960 E. H. RIEDMAIER ETAL 2,940,603

SHELF CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 14, 1957 INVENTORS Edward H. Riedmqier 8 Alfred N. Feutz i a w r r r a a;

United States Patent F SHELF CONSTRUCTION Edward H. Riedmaier, Pittsburgh, and Alfred N. Feat z, Monroeville, Pa., assignors to Flannery and Associates, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed June 14, 1957, Ser. No. 665,797 1 Claim. (Cl. 211-136) This invention relates to shelf construction and par,- ticularly to a shelf construction of the type employed for storing or displaying mechandise. The invention has to do with certain improved features of such a shelf con-- struction whereby it may be easily and quickly installed but with the component parts in desirably interlitting relationship whereby the parts are cooperatively braced so that the shelf construction is strong and rigid.

Our shelf construction preferably comprises a generally horizontal support having an upstanding projectionv and a shelf member lying on the support, the shelf member having at a portion thereof means underlying a portion of the support whereby that portion of the shelf member is restrained against generally upward movement, the shelf member having an opening therein. receiving the upstanding projection of the support whereby the shelf member is restrained against generally horizontal move.- ment. The generally horizontal support may be in the form of a bracket. supported at one end. The shelf member desirably has means underlying a portion of the bracket adjacent the. outer endther'eof, and the shelf member also desirably has means lying behind a portion of the bracket in the direction from the outer end toward the supported end of the bracket restraining the shelf member against movement in the direction from the sup ported end toward the outer end of the bracket;

The shelf member is also preferably transversely interfitted with the bracket to inhibit relative movement between the shelf member and the bracket in the direction transversely of the bracket. Weprefer that theimeaus of the shelf member which underlie a portion of the bracket adjacent the outer end thereof underlie the outer edge of the bracket, and we prefer that the means of the shelf member lying behind a portion of the bracket in the direction from the outer end toward the supported end of the bracket be disposed adjacent the supported end of the bracket.

In our preferred construction we provide a recess in the outer end of the bracket (i.e., the end opposite the end at which the bracket is supported), in which case the shelf member is provided with means entering the recess and underlying the outer edge of the bracket whereby to inhibit upward movement of the portion of the shelf member at the outer edge of the bracket and also inhibit relative movement between that portion of the shelf member and the bracket in the direction transversely of the bracket.

The bracket is preferably supported at one end by a generally upright support. Desirably the shelf member directly engages the support. For optimum stability and strength of the shelf construction the shelf member should fit tightly between a portion of the bracket and the support whereby to brace the shelf construction against the support and aid in maintaining the bracket in proper relationship to the support.

The bracket may have an upstanding projection spaced from the support and the shelf member may have an opening therein receiving the upstanding projection of the bracket.

2,940,603 Patented June 14, 1960 ice 2 We prefer to dispose the upstanding projection of the bracket adjacent but somewhat spaced from the support and fit the shelf member tightly between the up standing projection of the bracket and the support whereby in a simple and effective manner to brace the shelf i construction against the support and aid in maintaining the bracket in proper relationship to the support.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings we have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary isometric view showing a portion of one of the upright supports of our shelf construction and one of the brackets for supporting the shelf members, the bracket being disengaged from the" upright support;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view through the upright support showing in elevation the bracket applied thereto and showing also in elevation 21 shelf member in process of being applied;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the shelf member fully applied;

Figure 4 is an isometric view of the shelf member showing its under side and with portions cut away; and

- Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through a portion of the shelf member. a a

' Referring now more particularly to the drawings, our shelf construction may be embodied in sectional shelving having spaced apart upright supports one of which is designated by reference numeral '2 and is shown as being a generally channel shaped metal member with verticallyaligned slots 3 in its web. Supported by each of the upright supports Z-is a bracket designated generally by reference numeral 4 having a generally vertical body portion 5 having hook-like projections '6 which interengage with theupright supports 2 through the slots 3 to maintain the brackets in place upon the upright supports as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Each bracket 4has at its top generally horizontal flange its support 2 upstanding projections 8 which, as shown in the drawings, are inclined slightly toward the outer or unsupported end of the bracket. Each of the upstanding projections 8 is desirably formed by turning upwardly the end of the portion of the-flange means 7 at one side of the body '5 of the bracket as shown in Figure 1, the projections 8 being spaced apart by an intermediate space 9. Also the outer edge of the flange means 7 at each side of the body '5 of each bracket 4 is shown as being provided with a recess 15 for a purpose to be presently described.

We provide a shelf member designated generally by reference numeral 10 which is adapted to lie upon the adjacent halves of adjacent brackets 4, i.e., on the adjacent portions of the flange means 7 of the respective brackets. The ends 11 of the respective shelf member 10 respectively lie substantially in the vertical central planes of the brackets; thus each bracket supports one end of each of two shelf members 10. The ends 11 of the shelf member desirably lie flush against each other whereby to form a continuous shelf for supporting merchandise and also to assist in bracing and strengthening the shelf construction. The shelf member is shown as being formed out of sheet material turned downwardly and inwardly at the edges with the edge extremities turned upwardly on two opposed sides.

Each shelf member 10 has at its under surface 12 adjacent each end 11 thereof a portion 13 spaced somemember ,13- may "be" an integral portiomof. the shelf mem V substantially perpendicular to the upright sup ers;

r tbracingrof the. shelf construction coupled withthe fact bet partially severed from the material of the shelf meme.

7 her and deformed as shown in Figure 5.

. E'ach shelf member has an opening '14 therein exi -incl 7 brackets as will now be described. the upright projections 8 at the two corners of the shelf members having the openings 14 arereceived'with those openings whereby zontal movement.

that the respective shelf members '10 are disposed with their respective ends 11 in juxtaposition insures a strong durable shelf constructionin which the component elements are held tightly in'propertcooperative relationship, yet the shelf construction is of. low cost and easy to fabricate and assemble. V

While we have shown, and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is' to be distinctly understood that the'invention is not limited thereto-but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following cI-aim.'

We claim; 1

Shelf construction comprising a generally upright supa port, a bracket supportedat one end by the support and 'the, shelfnmemberv is restrained against generally hori- IIn assembling our shelf construction we first erect the; 1

up'rightsuppozts 2, arranging themin vertical spaced apart relation. We next apply brackets 4 to the upright supports Zjat the desired height. 7 We next apply 'each shelf member 10 byrdisposing it in generally horizontal:

' position with the portions 13 opposite the ends .of the,

brackets 4 and then, with the inner edge, i.e., the edge of the shelf member nearer the uprights, 2., tilted somewhat upwardly, as shown in Figure 2, move the shelf member s outenedges' of-the portions of the flanges 7 of the two brackets upon which the shelf member is carriedn The portions 13 of the shelf member enter the corresponding recesse'slS whereby the shelf, member is interfitted' with The inner edge of theshelf member is then pressed down.- wardly so that the corresponding upstanding, projections. 8 enter the openings 14 in the shelf member and the the upright: supports 2 and the upstanding projections 8 toward the uprights until the portions 13 underlie the @thegbracketsrtoinhibit relative movement betweenthe shelf member and the brackets in the direction trans-,5 versely of the brackets. When the portions 13 have thus been interengaged with the outer edges of the brackets theginner edge of the shelf member is in contact orsub V stantially in contact with the webs of the 'uprights 'zt struction against the upright supports Zand aid inmain- I the bracketsfi in proper relationship thereto, i.e.,;.-

having an upwardly facing supporting portion, the bracket having an upstanding projectiontadjacent but somewhat spaced from the support'and inclined slightlyftoward the outer end of the bra'cket, and a shelf member lying on the bracket, the shelf member having means'projectingdownwardly and toward the support hooking under the outer end offthe bracket upon application oftheshelf member to the bracket by movement of the shelf member generally toward the supporg'the shelf member having means'wedged between, the support and the inclined upstanding projection ofthebracket, whereby the shelf member -isvheld down against the outer end of the bracket i and also is restrained against movement in either direev tion between the ends of the; bracket, and theshelfgmeine berrdirectly engages the support and fits tightlygbetween, the npstanding projection of the bracket and the support and thus braces the shelfconstruction against the support and aids in maintaining the bracket against lateral swinging movement on the upright support.

' Referencescited in thejfile of pateht warn STATES PATENTS" Y 836,045 f; Melchior 1 -Novl13,;1906 1,468,813 I H n u ;s ezs, 192a rssrroo Stanitz; May3l', 1932 2,258,057 1 Johnson -Oct.,7,i1941; 2,643,170,; Vanderveld June'23,'1953 2,7ss;902; Nowicki *Apr.*16, 19 57' 2,796,158 Milesvet al June-18', 1951 Bianch1 nun-Jury 29, 1953- 

